5th wheel for Tundra

[nal13]

I own a 2007 Tundra with a towing capacity of 10,300 lbs. Currently, I own a bumper pull travel trailer (2016 rockwood mini lite 2506s) that weighs in at 5,100lbs. The wife has us looking at fifth wheels and asking what I can go up to in weight. My rule before was 7,000lbs, but now that it's a fifth wheel, I'm wondering if I can go a little higher, comfortably. I know to factor in tongue weight and cargo weight, I would add air bags just to keep everything level. Models we are looking at are: Jayco Eagle 25.5REOK and KZ Sportsmen 262RLK. I have been told by a couple people I know who own half ton pickups and went from a bumper pull to a fifth wheel that say they pull way better, even if they are heavier and that they get better gas milage. I do plan on a 1600 mile trip this summer and I tow for a living, I drive a semi, for what that's worth. Would I be safe and would this fifth wheel tow better than the bumper pull?

Also, does anyone else have any camper suggestions? We are looking for a walk around queen, couch and dinette, decent sized bathroom, black tank flush, and we need an outdoor kitchen. The outdoor kitchen seems to be the kicker for this segment of campers.

[nal13]

PhoneDude 8289 wrote:
Towed 2 different 5th wheels with my 08 Tundra Limited 5.7 purchased new. Both 5th wheels GVWR was 10K. Ready to camp with the Hensley BD3 hitch at the scales they weighed 9500+# with around a 1700+# pin weight. The rear axel of the Tundra is made by Hino and is rated at 5500# by Hino but derated by Toyota maybe for warranty. I had E rated tires @ 70PSI when towing and airbags for level. Yep over payload and a over Toyotas RAWR but under Hinos. Towing over 8 years with the Tundra close to 40K miles never an issue. Trans, Diffs and engine lubes were changed yearly. Tundra is a pulling beast but very hungry for fuel. Sold it 2 years ago with 187K on the clock still running great. I now have a Ram 2500 Cummins. The Tundra was way more comfortable in the seat. The Ram with the Cummins is more impressive in the mountains and the exhaust break is so awesome. 30% to 40% better fuel milage with the diesel doesn't hurt but I do miss the Tundra.

Thank you for the information, that makes me happy to own a Tundra. 🙂

[MFL]

PhoneDude...yes, you can make a 1/2 ton truck work for many jobs that it was not designed to do, as I also did years ago. About the RAWR...the truck manufacturer is not derating the axle, but is rating by ALL things connected to it, such as the springs, tires/wheels, and brakes. You added air bags to support springs, and higher E rated tires, to bring use able axle load closer to Hino's rating.

Most trucks axle manufacturer rates their axle much higher than the vehicle manufacturer, especially on the 3/4 ton trucks.

The Toyota trucks have been a good choice for many years.

Jerry

[PhoneDude_8289]

Towed 2 different 5th wheels with my 08 Tundra Limited 5.7 purchased new. Both 5th wheels GVWR was 10K. Ready to camp with the Hensley BD3 hitch at the scales they weighed 9500+# with around a 1700+# pin weight. The rear axel of the Tundra is made by Hino and is rated at 5500# by Hino but derated by Toyota maybe for warranty. I had E rated tires @ 70PSI when towing and airbags for level. Yep over payload and a over Toyotas RAWR but under Hinos. Towing over 8 years with the Tundra close to 40K miles never an issue. Trans, Diffs and engine lubes were changed yearly. Tundra is a pulling beast but very hungry for fuel. Sold it 2 years ago with 187K on the clock still running great. I now have a Ram 2500 Cummins. The Tundra was way more comfortable in the seat. The Ram with the Cummins is more impressive in the mountains and the exhaust break is so awesome. 30% to 40% better fuel milage with the diesel doesn't hurt but I do miss the Tundra.

[gmw_photos]

Many folks may not be aware, but the Shuttle was never moved by the Tundra. The dollies underneath the Shuttle are self-propelled units.
....snip...

According to this article, in fact, the Tundra did provide the motive force to move the shuttle across the 405:

https://www.space.com/18052-space-shuttle-endeavour-toyota-truck-tow.html

[silverfz]

nal13 wrote:

silverfz wrote:
Saw a massive 5 wheel being towed yesterday on I95 in southern mass by a tundra. It looked scary. My wife was the one to notice and said that does not look safe.

It probably wasn't larger than the space shuttle!!! 😄

Well it certainly looked liked it ... I have no idea if its safe. Me and wife will never own one of those high fifth wheels as everything we buy she has to be able to tow and drive comfortably. She is the better driver/tow person between me and her . So i know if i need help she is on the passenger seat all the time. I do tow a bunch but save the hard to park places and questionable areas to my better half.

The tundra is a great platform i just hit 140k and did my first transmission service . I might do the plugs and wires this summer.
already did the pump,belt and coolant at 120. There was a small leak in the radiator so put a non oem one.

[goducks10]

DaveF-250SD wrote:

nal13 wrote:

silverfz wrote:
Saw a massive 5 wheel being towed yesterday on I95 in southern mass by a tundra. It looked scary. My wife was the one to notice and said that does not look safe.

It probably wasn't larger than the space shuttle!!! 😄

Many folks may not be aware, but the Shuttle was never moved by the Tundra. The dollies underneath the Shuttle are self-propelled units. The truck in front, be it a big rig, tundra, kid on a bicycle etc., does nothing but steer the tow bar, and the dollies follow the tow bar for directional input. Any load that's over 100,000 pounds needing to be moved on any road will use two semis, one pulling, and one pushing. The Shuttle by itself weighs 400,000 pounds.

Fake news. I saw it happen on tv. 🙂

[nal13]

DaveF-250SD wrote:

Many folks may not be aware, but the Shuttle was never moved by the Tundra. The dollies underneath the Shuttle are self-propelled units. The truck in front, be it a big rig, tundra, kid on a bicycle etc., does nothing but steer the tow bar, and the dollies follow the tow bar for directional input. Any load that's over 100,000 pounds needing to be moved on any road will use two semis, one pulling, and one pushing. The Shuttle by itself weighs 400,000 pounds.

Sounds like a conspiracy theory to me.

[DaveF-250SD]

nal13 wrote:

silverfz wrote:
Saw a massive 5 wheel being towed yesterday on I95 in southern mass by a tundra. It looked scary. My wife was the one to notice and said that does not look safe.

It probably wasn't larger than the space shuttle!!! 😄

Many folks may not be aware, but the Shuttle was never moved by the Tundra. The dollies underneath the Shuttle are self-propelled units. The truck in front, be it a big rig, tundra, kid on a bicycle etc., does nothing but steer the tow bar, and the dollies follow the tow bar for directional input. Any load that's over 100,000 pounds needing to be moved on any road will use two semis, one pulling, and one pushing. The Shuttle by itself weighs 400,000 pounds.

[nal13]

silverfz wrote:
Saw a massive 5 wheel being towed yesterday on I95 in southern mass by a tundra. It looked scary. My wife was the one to notice and said that does not look safe.

It probably wasn't larger than the space shuttle!!! 😄

[silverfz]

Saw a massive 5 wheel being towed yesterday on I95 in southern mass by a tundra. It looked scary. My wife was the one to notice and said that does not look safe.

[dpark]

I know I am a little late on the conversation and you said you already made up your mind, but after three pages, I feel I need to respond...lol.

I towed the trailer listed in my signature and it specd. out fine for my 2013 Rock Warrior Tundra. However, after putting it across our truck scales and seeing actual numbers and always driving with two hands firmly on the wheel, I upgraded to a 2014 2500HD Duramax and WOW!!! the difference was not comparable. I have since moved to a 3500HD Duramax because it was a sweet looking truck and with both of the Chevy's I can drive with ease and no stress. So, will it do it, yes and with plenty of power, but you can tell a huge difference.

To do a comparison you will understand, I started in a commercial truck with a 290 Cummins with a 13 speed. Last truck I ran had a 600 Cat with an 18 speed. Not quite that dramatic of a difference, but you get the point. Both got the job done, but one with much more ease.

[nal13]

I'm starting to decide against a fifth wheel and even upgrading. I think I will upgrade my truck down the road, I do love my Toyota though, and then look for fifth wheels. After adding a 5th wheel hitch, air bags, and new tires, the cost of everything just isn't worth it.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

[Frostbitte]

I used to tow a Prowler 275 CKS 5'er with my old Hemi Half-ton RAM. The dry pin weight was about 1000 lbs and roughly the same tow weight. I added air bags which helped a lot but was in some situations probably, technically over the rated payload of the truck. It handled the weight well but it worked hard at times on the hills etc. Oddly enough, the only thing that really bothered me was high cross winds and when small cars would pass. They seem to create a vortex that interfered the most. I certainly knew there were beside me vs. bigger trucks and vehicles.

So yeah, technically you can do it but I'd still recommend a 3/4 ton for that type of trailer. They're, as you know, just built differently and are able to handle such issues without much fuss, especially with a 5th wheel setup. Basically better suited for towing and heavy payloads whether underrated or overrated for the job at hand.

Even with my current setup which is much bigger and heavier that the previous, cross-winds etc aren't really much of a concern. I can feel them and such but I have no issues getting up to speed, setting cruise and having a relaxed towing experience down the road.

[Dave_H_M]

After all the comments, i still think you know what you are doing and a rig can be worked with your TV.

NOW, my concern has always been rear tires and rims that will take the load. I have had one blow out on the rear on the F250 and it scared the you know what out of me. had another separation. Both were LR E General Grabbers. Never again.


i am now running Trans Force and knocking on wood.